Virtual training technology developed by Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) has received the prestigious Brandon Hall silver award for "Best Use of Games or Simulations for Learning." Touted as the Oscars of the learning and training industry, the Brandon Hall Group Excellence Awards recognized Raytheon for innovative virtual training developed to train U.S. Army soldiers for the Patriot Missile Battery.

Raytheon's 3-D avatar training uses motion capture to generate digital likenesses of individual soldiers, who control these avatars in a realistic virtual environment. The result is a compelling, cost-effective and video game-like training approach that trains teams of up to five members on Patriot missile batteries.

Raytheon's Global Patriot Solutions provide 13 countries, including five NATO allies around the globe, with a combat-proven missile defense architecture that is continuously upgraded to keep ahead of evolving threats.

"This award recognizes not only the innovative approach delivered by Raytheon, but its effectiveness in training to meet real-world threats," said Todd Probert , vice president of Mission Support and Modernization at Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services (IIS). "Our very successful Patriot sustainment program has delivered exemplary results for customers across the globe, thanks to our advanced technology for improved capabilities and training."

Virtual training and use of avatars is one of the elements of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Training Device roadmap and Sustainment Strategy. Working from this strategy, Raytheon's IIS engineering group developed the virtual training environment for the U.S. Army Lower Tier Project Office (LTPO), which manages all aspects of the Army's Patriot system. The first virtual training scenario developed for the Army was loading missiles into the battery launchers, complete with procedural and environmental details.

"Raytheon's unique approach to virtual training has met success on Patriot, but it can be applied to a host of different missions," said Terry Stroud , senior manager at IIS. "Any live training that is expensive, high-impact or potentially dangerous can benefit from moving to a virtual world. Raytheon's avatar training is cost-effective for the Army and compelling for today's generation of soldiers."